§ 35. Mr. Fosterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of pits or
| District. | Number of Pits completely closed or being completely closed. | Number of Pits partially closed, involving transfer of men to other pits. | |
| Nothumberland | … | 1 | 3 |
| Cumberland | … | nil | nil |
| Durham | … | 8 | 1 |
| South Yorkshire | … | 2 | 4 |
| West Yorkshire | … | nil | 1 |
| North Derbyshire | … | 1 | nil |
| Nottinghamshire | … | nil | 1 |
| South Derbyshire | … | nil | nil |
| Leicestershire | … | nil | nil |
| Lancashire & Cheshire | … | 5 | nil |
| North Wales | … | 3 | nil |
| Cannock Chase | … | nil | nil |
| North Staffordshire | … | 3 | nil |
| South Staffordshire & Worcestershire | … | 2 | nil |
| Shropshire | … | nil | nil |
| Warwickshire | … | 1 | nil |
| South Wales and Monmouth | … | 1 | 1 |
| Forest of Dean | … | nil | nil |
| Bristol | … | nil | nil |
| Somerset | … | nil | nil |
| Fife & Clackmannan | … | nil | 1 |
| The Lothians | … | 2 | 1 |
| Lanarkshire | … | 4 | nil |
| Ayrshire | … | nil | 1 |
| Kent | … | nil | nil |
| GREAT BRITAIN | … | 33 | 14 |
§ In most cases of closure or partial closure it is too early to judge the effects of the transfers of men. In the majority of those cases where it is possible to form
706§ seams which have been closed by his Ministry in the British coalfields and for each district; and whether increased production has resulted, or otherwise, by this policy at the pits to which the employees have been transferred?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power (Mr. Tom Smith)In view of the number of figures involved in answering the first part of the Question, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, have them circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, together with my answer to the second part.
§ Mr. FosterCan my hon. Friend say, in reply to the second part of the Question, whether there has been increased production, or not, as a result of this policy?
§ Mr. SmithIn some cases it is yet too early to judge the value of it. In other cases we are definitely of opinion that the results are most encouraging.
§ The information is as follows:
§ a judgment, however, a gain in production has resulted.
§ My hon. Friend will appreciate that the closing of relatively inefficient pits with a 707 view to obtaining additional man-power for highly-productive pits, does not represent the entire scheme which is being carried out to ensure the best use of the industry's man-power. A policy of concentration of man-power and machinery on the most productive seams within pits and of technical improvement all round is being pursued, and I am glad to be able to report that the results achieved so far are encouraging.